Side discharge loading mechanism



E. M. ARENTZEN SIDE DISCHARGE LOADING MECHANISM Jul 11, 1939.

Filed April 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n m. m J .H a

July 11, 1939. ARENTZEN 2,165,205.

SIDE DISCHARGE LOADING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR.

am/M flrenfjerc.

ATTORNEY5 Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFlCE Einar M.Arentzen, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company,Franklin, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application April 28, 1938,Serial No. 204,842

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging materiallaterally from a conveying or loading mechanism. The invention alsoincludes means designed to compensate for the presence of obstructionslocated in the path of the discharge flow of material handled by theapparatus.

Although the principle of the invention is equally well applicable tothe handling and conveying of many types of material, whether in bulkform such as coal or sand, gravel, stone, Cinders, etc., or in packagedform, such as cans, boxes, etc., of merchandise; it is particularlysuited for the handling of coal in mining operations, While not limitedto use therewith, the device of the present invention is designed moreespecially for incorporation in a traveling mobile mechanical loadercomprising a gathering mechanism and discharge conveyor such as shownand described, for example, in United States Patent No. 1,619,260, datedMarch 1, 1927. Such machines are usually self-propelled, either runningon rails or mounted on a tractor as illustrated in the patent cited.Furthermore, the discharge 25 conveyor may be mounted for swingingmovement in various ways, one preferred and largely used constructionbeing shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,785,402, datedDecember 16, 1930.

In the operation of such a loading machine, particularly in therelatively confined and oftentime obstructed space available in coalmines, it is found necessary to convey the material around obstructions,such as mine timbers or props, and to change the direction of travel ofthe material through relatively sharp angles of 90 or greater. When aself-propelled gathering mechanism is moved through a room in a mine,there is very often found a series of mine timbers located between thedischarge end of the mechanism and the apparatus which it is loading,such as mine cars or belt conveyors. The device of the present inventionis accordingly, particularly adapted to 45 transfer material from thedischarge end of a moving gathering mechanism and conveyor to anadjacent conveying mechanism having a rel-atively fixed location withminimum interruption and inconvenience incident to the presence ofintervening obstructions such as mine timbers and props. Additionalobjects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as thefollowing description proceeds,

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used,

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus em- 10 bodying the principleof the invention, such ape paratus being represented as in the processof operation in a mine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1; Figs. 3and 4 are fragmentary plan views illustrating two different positionsoccupied 15 by the deflector plate of the side discharge mechanism withrespect to an obstruction such as a mine timber; Fig. 5 is an enlarged,plan view of the side discharge mechanism having a portion of theconveyor deck broken away for convenience of illustration; Fig. 6 is anelevational view, partially in section, of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is adetailed sectional View taken substantially along lines l--l of'Figs. 5and 6.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown aloading machine of the type heretofore described as being illustrated inthe two prior patents cited above. Such machine, in other words,comprises a self-propelled, track laying tractor I having a gatheringapron 2 and gathering arms 3 and 4 mounted upon its forward end. Anarticulated conveyor 5 leads from such forward end to the rear of theloading and conveying mechanism, its discharge end 6 being capable ofboth vertical and horizontal swinging movement. The gathering andconveying mechanism consisting of the elements just described, isadapted to be moved forward into the pile of material A. The aforesaidPatent No. 1,785,402 may be referred to for fuller and more detailed 40explanation of the construction and mode of operation of the gatheringand conveying mechanism consisting of the elements I to 6 inclusive.

In the installation shown, the coal being discharged from conveyor 5 isdesigned to be received on a conveyor B of the endless belt type,located in an entry way adjacent the space or room from which the coalis being loaded, and a series of roof-supporting posts C is interposedbetween such entry and room, The mechanism of present interest isdesigned thus to direct the discharged material from the conveyor 6 ofthe loading machine onto the belt B (or equivalent transporting means),irrespective of the interposed row of posts, where present, andirrespective of -65 whether such discharge is to be to the left or rightside of the loading machine, as it advances. Such special mechanismcomprises, as a prin cipal element, a rotatable disc I suitablysupported at the outer end of the frame of the corn veyort, so as toextend horizontally beyond the same just below such end; A deflectingplate 8,

pivotally mounted at its inner end upon the axis of the rotatable disc[extends beyond the periphery of the latter and over the margin of thetransport conveyor B, Such deflector plate 8 has an apron portion 9which is slightly inclined fro-m the horizontal and. adapted to conveyor lead material from the periphery of the disc I to the discharge pointabove the conveyor-B. The inner end of the deflector plate 8 is in theform of a sleeve I 0 adapted to fit over the upwardly extending end ofthe disc shaft or axle ll.

Assuming the disc 1 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicatedby the arrows in'Figs. l, 3 and 4, it will tend to carry the deflectorplate around with it until the latter either strikes an obstruction suchas a mine timber G, or the limit stop IS on the discharge end of thearticulated conveyor5. As the tractor moves forward, via, in a righthanddirection with respect to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the deflector platei8 oncontacting a mine timber C is carried pivotally around in acounter-clockwise direction against the rotation of the disc I. When thetractor I moves further,

" the end of the deflector plate 8 will clear the mine able in'the slot25 by means of take-up screws 25,

timber C and swing back to its original position and into the spacebetween the next fadjacent mine timbers. When theposition of therotatable disc I and the deflector plate 8 is such that the latter ismoved too close to the end of the guard plate l2, so as to tend to chokeoff the discharge flow of material, it is merely necessary toswing theend 6 of the articulated conveyor 5 away from the mine timber asufficient distance to permit 'theend of the deflector plate 8' to clearsuch timber. In such instance, the deflector plate 8 will again followthe rotating movement of 'the disc I to occupy its normal position againand on the other side of the obstructing timber being carried to suchposition by the weight of'the material onthedisc The guard plate l2extends around a portion of the periphery of the disc 'I and has one endattached by meansof a bolt or pin I3 tothe side plate l4 ofthe, conveyor5. The limit stop arm I I5 is similarly attached by means of a bolt orpin 16 to the other side plate H of the conveyor 5. A channel bracket l8also supports the guard plate I2 at a point near the free or openend. ofthe latter and is attached by means of a fastening stud l9 to theextension bed plate 20 and at a point'in alignment with the shaft I l ofthe disc I.

It will be noted that the conveyor chain 2| carryingthe scraping orconveying arms .22, which travel over the conveyor deck 23, extendsaround the end roller 24, and that the latter is adjustthis being forthe purpose of adjusting the ten sion andtightness of the conveyorchain2|. In order to drive the disc 1, the under-run or return pass of theconveyor chain 2| engages with a sprocket 21 mounted upon the horizontalshaft 28, the latter being supported in the bearing bosses 29 and 38 onthe bed-plate 28. A'beveled gear 3| meshes with a complementary beveledgear 32v mounted'onthegupper end of the vertical shaft 33 which is alsomounted in the bed plate 20. The'shaft 33in turn carries a sprocket .34which,;through the chain 35, is connected to the sprocket 36 upon theshaft 3?. The sprocket 36 drives the gear 38 which in turn meshes withthe idler gear 39. The latter meshes with the gear 40 carried by thedisc shaft I.

Thus the movement of the conveyor chain 2| operates'to rotate theconveyor disc 1 in a clockwise direction (with respect to Fig. 5).

A secondary bearing mounting 4| is provided in the bed plate 28 for thepurpose of converting the side discharge mechanism from a left hand to aright hand discharge. In this instance, the rotatable disc 'i'is liftedover and mounted in the mounting 4| whereupon the gear Ml upon its shaftmeshes directly with the gear 38. The direction of rotation of the disc1 will then be in a counterclockwise, direction, as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 5. A deflector plate 8' which is' in effect a.mirror imageof the deflector 8 is substituted for the latter. The positions of theguard plate I2 and limit stop arm l5 are of course reversed on theends'of the side plates l4 and II respectively,

when the discharge is changed from th'e'left'hand to the right hand sideof the mechanism. The channel bracket i8 is also changed to a positionwhere its inner end is supported in'align'ment with the shaft mounting4|. I i

In conclusion, it should be explained that the general views of my"improved side discharge 4 inclusiveare diagrammatic in character. Furtheremore, that in these views the rotary disc "l loading mechanismwhich are found in Figs. lto

is shown as having its axis aligned with the center of the swingingconveyor 6 whereas in the de tailed views shown in the remaining figuressuch 7 disc is located off-side, i. e., to the right or the left of thecenter line of the conveyor. The lat-- ter arrangement thus illustratedin detail is the preferred one, althoughin the case of small loadingmachines the construction diagrammatically. shown in the first mentionedfigures is simpler inasmuch as it will permit the disc to be moredirectly driven from the conveyor chain than where provision has tobemade to reverse the direction of rotation of the disc.

Other modes of applying the principle of 'my invention may beemployedinstead of the'one explained, change being made as regardsthe'mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularlyf point out and distinctly claim as myinvention: a 1

1. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of atractormounting an endless conveyor, a rotatable disc mounted adjacentthe discharge end of said conveyor and adapted to extending around aportion of the periphery of said disc for preventing the discharge ofmaterial from the surface thereof, driving mechanism forrotating said.disc and means for connecting said driving mechanism to:v said conveyor,whereby movement of said conveyor operates to rotate said disc, saiddeflecting means extending beyond the periphery of said disc and beingadapted to be moved around the periphery of said disc on contact with anexterior object during travel of said tractor.

3. In combination with a mechanical loader adapted to move along overthe floor of a mine, an endless conveyor mounted on said loader, arotatable disc mounted on said loader adjacent the discharge end of saidconveyor and adapted to receive material therefrom, a deflector platepivotally mounted on the axis of said disc and extending radially beyondthe circumference of the latter and movable around said disc on contactwith an exterior object during travel of said loader, a stationary guardplate mounted adjacent the periphery of said disc and extending around aportion thereof, one end of said guard plate being located adjacent theend of said conveyor and the other end of said guard plate terminatingshort of said deflector plate, driving mechanism for rotating said disc,and means for connecting said driving mechanism to said conveyor,whereby movement of said conveyor operates to rotate said disc.

4. In combination with a loading machine adapted to move over the floorof a mine and having a driven conveyor for transporting material to therear of said machine, a side discharge device for said machinecomprising a disc mounted for rotation about a substantially verticalaxis at the discharge end of and at one side of the center of saidconveyor, a deflector plate pivotally mounted above the said disc andextending beyond the periphery thereof, an apron carried by the extendedportion of said plate and abutting against the periphery of said disc,said apron being adapted to be moved around the periphery of said discon contact of said deflector plate with an exterior object during thetravel of said loading machine, and means for rotating said disc.

5. In combination with a loading machine movable over the floor of amine and having a driven conveyor for transporting material to one endthereof, a side discharge device for said machine, comprising arotatable disc at the discharge end of and to one side of the center ofsaid endless conveyor, a substantially vertical shaft mounted forrotation on said machine and on which said disc is mounted, a deflectorplate journaled on said shaft above said disc and extending beyond theperiphery thereof, an apron carried by the extended portion of saiddeflector plate and abutting against the periphery of said disc, drivingmeans for rotating said shaft, and means for connecting said drivingmeans to the conveyor whereby movement of the conveyor operates torotate the disc.

6. In combination with a loading machine movable over the floor of amine and having a driven conveyor for transporting material to the rearof the machine, means for discharging the material at a substantialangle to the direction of travel of said conveyor, comprising asubstantially vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said machine at thedischarge end of and to one side of the center of said conveyor, a disccarried by said shaft, a deflector plate pivotally mounted on said shaftabove said disc and extending beyond the periphery of the latter todeflect the material from said disc toward the side of said machine,means adjacent said disc for receiving the material therefrom, means fordriving said shaft to rotate said disc, and means for connecting saiddriving means to said conveyor whereby the operation of said conveyorcontrols the rotation of said disc.

7. In combination with a loading machine movable over the floor of amine, a side discharge mechanism therefor, comprising a rotatable disc,a stationary guide member at one side of said disc and extending asubstantial distance around the periphery thereof, a pivoted deflectorplate above said disc and projecting therebeyo-nd, said deflector platebeing adapted to be moved relative to said disc on contact of theprojecting end with an exterior member as the loading machine travelsalong the mine floor, means for delivering the material onto said disc,and means for rotating said disc.

8. In combination with a loading machine movable along the floor of amine and having a conveyor for delivering material to the end of saidmachine, a side discharge mechanism comprising an apron pivoted to saidmachine at the discharge end of and to one side of the center of saidconveyor and extending beyond the side of said machine, a disc betweensaid apron.

and the discharge end of said conveyor, means for rotating said disc,and means for sweeping the material off of said disc and onto said apronas said disc is rotated.

9. In combination with a self-propelled loading machine movable over thefloor of a mine and having an endless conveyor for transporting materialto the rear of the machine, a side discharge mechanism for said machineincluding a rotating disc at the discharge end of said conveyor forreceiving the material therefrom, a pivotally mounted apron adjacentsaid disc and extending beyond the side of said machine, said apronbeing adapted to be moved around the periphery of said disc on contactthereof with an exterior object as said machine moves over the floor ofthe mine, means for rotating said disc, and means for sweeping thematerial from said disc onto said apron.

10. In combination with a loading machine movable over the floor of amine and having a driven endless conveyor for moving material to one endof said machine, a side discharge mechanism, comprising an apron pivotedto said machine at the discharge end of said conveyor and extendingbeyond the side of said machine, said apron being movable through an arcon contact thereof with an exterior object as the machine travels alongthe floor of the mine, a rotatable material receiving member betweensaid apron and the discharge end of said conveyor, and means fortransferring the material from said material receiving member onto saidapron on rotation of said member.

EINAR, M. ARENTZEN.

